How prostate cancer cells turn into aggressive neuroendocrine cells
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Luminal- Neuroendocrine Transdifferentiation
Researchers are looking at how prostate cancer cells change into a more aggressive neuroendocrine form to find new drug targets and tests for men with prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163457 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses human prostate cancer cells in the lab to force them toward a neuroendocrine-like state by turning on a gene called FOXA2 and tracking the change over 28 days. Scientists will monitor gene activity with RNA sequencing, map transcription factor binding and chromatin remodeling, measure DNA methylation, and examine 3-D genome architecture to see how the cancer cell program shifts. Early results show FOXA2 activates a neural factor called NKX2-1 and that FOXA2 and NKX2-1 interact through chromatin looping to activate neuroendocrine genes. The team aims to pinpoint specific steps in this process that could become drug targets or biomarkers of progression to neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with advanced or treatment-resistant prostate adenocarcinoma, especially those at risk for or showing signs of neuroendocrine transformation, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without prostate cancer, or men with early, low-risk prostate cancer, are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal drug targets and biomarkers to detect or slow the lethal neuroendocrine form of prostate cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies have described molecular changes in neuroendocrine prostate cancer, but linking FOXA2-driven chromatin reorganization with NKX2-1-dependent progression is a novel aspect of this work.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Changsheng — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Changsheng
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.